Chhangur Baba campaigned for gangster Atiq Ahmed, claims former BJP MP
In addition to his political activities, Chhangur Baba, also known as Jalaluddin, is under investigation for allegedly running a large-scale religious conversion racket. The Uttar Pradesh Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS) has revealed that he financed over 1,000 Muslim men to trap Hindu girls under the guise of 'Love Jihad' and subsequently converted them.The investigation has uncovered potential foreign funding sources, adding complexity to the case. Meanwhile, several girls who managed to escape from Chhangur Baba's influence have returned to their families in Lucknow, with some reporting threats from abroad, including Saudi Arabia and Pakistan.National President of the Vishwa Hindu Raksha Parishad Gopal Rai took several of these girls to a press conference, allowing them to share their experiences publicly.- EndsInputs from Kumar KunalMust Watch
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New Indian Express
22 minutes ago
- New Indian Express
One Nation, Two Laws: Digvijaya Singh's social media post kicks up political row
BHOPAL: Rajya Sabha member and former Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Digvijaya Singh's Facebook post sparked a political row on Wednesday. Captioned 'Ek Desh Do Kanoon' (One Nation, Two Laws), the post by the septuagenarian politician showed two pictures – one where the Kanwar Yatra is blocking the road and the other where a cop is seen kicking men offering namaz on the road. The post pictorially questioned two sets of actions by authorities on the religious practices of different communities. The post triggered angry reactions from the ruling BJP. Slamming the senior Congress leader over the post, the MP cabinet minister, Vishwas Sarang, termed Singh as 'Maulana Digvijaya Singh.' 'He only opposes Sanatan Dharma. He has not even spared the holy Kanwar Yatra. What else can be expected from a man (Singh) who has glorified anti-India Islamic preacher Zakir Naik, but questioned every operation of the Indian defence forces and never missed any opportunity to defame the Sanatan Dharma and Hindu sadhus. But mocking our festivals and holy Yatras through such social media posts will no longer be tolerated, he (Singh) needs to apologise,' Sarang said.
The Print
34 minutes ago
- The Print
Hedging bets or posturing? In 1st social engineering attempt, Shinde Sena ties up with Ambedkar grandson
Analysts, however, say, Shinde's 'Bhimshakti' alliance is mere posturing at a time when the Shinde-led Shiv Sena is facing power tussles with ally Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and its image has suffered a beating due to back-to-back controversies stirred by its leaders. The Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena on Wednesday clinched an alliance with the Republican Sena, a political outfit led by Anandraj Ambedkar, Dr B.R. Ambedkar's grandson. Mumbai: In preparation for the local body polls expected to be held across Maharashtra this year or early next year, Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde has taken a leaf out of his mentor, Shiv Sena founder Bal Thackeray's book, by getting a 'Bhimshakti' in his corner. But whether it will yield any political advantage remains to be seen. Ahead of the 2012 civic polls, the undivided Shiv Sena under Bal Thackeray along with its ally Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) forged an alliance with Ramdas Athavale's Republican Party of India (RPI), despite the Shiv Sena's strained past with the Dalit community. The gambit had somewhat paid off at the ballot boxes. Political commentator Hemant Desai said, 'Eknath Shinde feels like his party's image has been getting maligned, and is looking for ways to give it a boost ahead of local body polls. He also wants to show that his party has a solid existence and can bring together leaders from diverse communities. But, politically, there will be no impact of this alliance. It just helps in posturing and spinning a narrative.' In the past month, leaders from the Shinde-led Shiv Sena such as Sanjay Gaikwad, Sanjay Shirsat and Sanjay Rathod have faced allegations of inappropriate behaviour or graft. On Monday, Deputy CM Shinde also warned his party cadre to not cause him any embarrassment. The BJP, meanwhile, has taken political advantage of these controversies, distancing itself from them in trying to win the perception battle. Also read: Shinde & Thackeray revive Shiv Sena's classic 'Marathi manus, sons of soil' pitch ahead of BMC polls Shinde's first attempt at social engineering Dr Sanjay Patil, researcher at Mumbai University's politics and civics department, told ThePrint, 'The local body polls are still some time away. The alliance is unlikely to bring any political gains as such. Prakash Ambedkar's name and party still has some following in parts of Maharashtra, but Anandraj Ambedkar has not developed the same kind of following. He has hardly spoken convincingly on issues or made any dent during elections.' The significance of the tie-up, however, lies in the fact that this is Eknath Shinde's first concrete attempt at social engineering, Patil said. Prakash and Anadraj Ambedkars are both grandsons of Dr B.R. Ambedkar. Anandraj Ambedkar had unsuccessfully contested the 2024 Lok Sabha election from the Amravati constituency, getting just 1.6 percent of the total votes polled. Prakash Ambedkar had contested the same election from Akola and lost too, but had clinched 23.59 percent of total votes. A tie-up with the 'legacy of blood' Post the 2012 alliance when Athavale came to the BJP-Shiv Sena fold, Athavale has remained loyal to the BJP and has been a minister of state in all three cabinets of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. On Wednesday, while announcing his party's alliance with Anandraj Ambedkar's outfit, Shinde recalled Bal Thackeray's 'Bhim Shakti-Shiv Shakti' formula, but emphasised more on Anandraj Ambedkar's legacy of being Dr BR Ambedkar's grandson. He said, 'We are two armies. One is an army that runs on the legacy of the ideology of Balasaheb Thackeray, while the other is an army that runs on the legacy of the blood of Bharatratna Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar. And that's why we will get along really well.' On his part, Anandraj Ambedkar said his outfit was allying with the Shinde-led Shiv Sena unconditionally. 'We have decided to go with him unconditionally. The only condition is that Eknathrao should include Ambedkarite karyakartas in power and he has given us this word,' Ambedkar said. In 2022, Uddhav Thackeray too had looked back on his father's 'Bhimshakti-Shiv Shakti' formula by allying with Prakash Ambedkar's Vanchit Bahujan Aghadi (VBA) ahead of the 2024 Lok Sabha and assembly polls. The alliance, however, did not work out within the broader Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) alliance comprising the Congress, the Sharad Pawar-led Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) and the Shiv Sena (Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray). Prakash Ambedkar's party ended up contesting independently, amid allegations of the VBA being the Mahayuti's B-team, and suffered a drubbing. The Mahayuti comprises the BJP, the Shinde-led Shiv Sena and the Ajit Pawar-led NCP. Shinde said, the alliance between the Shiv Sena (UBT) and the VBA did not work out within the larger MVA because 'MVA was formed for selfish reasons'. 'We have faith in each other. Our karyakartas are in sync so there should be no such problem in the Mahayuti,' he said. (Edited by Viny Mishra) Also read: Ahead of BMC polls, Fadnavis doubles down on scandal-ridden Shinde Sena MLAs but stops short of action
The Print
34 minutes ago
- The Print
Puneet Kumar Goel appointed Manipur chief secretary, 4th since ethnic conflict erupted in May 2023
The move to recall Singh to the Centre has raised eyebrows in bureaucratic circles as he was considered close to Manipur Governor A.K. Bhalla. During his short stint in Manipur, he had ensured coordination between different government agencies and worked with the security establishment to improve the law and order situation. Goel is the fourth IAS officer to be appointed the chief secretary of Manipur since May 2023, when ethnic conflict broke out in the state between the non-tribal Meiteis and the tribal Kuki-Zo communities, claiming over 260 lives and displacing 60,000 people. New Delhi: The Centre has named Puneet Kumar Goel, a 1991 batch AGMUT cadre IAS officer, as the new chief secretary of Manipur, replacing Prashant Kumar Singh, a 1993 batch Manipur cadre IAS officer, who was appointed to the top post just six months ago. Singh has been appointed Secretary, National Commission for Scheduled Tribes, in place of Goel, who was holding the charge before being sent to Manipur. The latter has also served as chief secretary of Goa. Goel's appointment comes at a time when the Centre is engaged in talks with political and civil society groups in the state to restore normalcy and install a popular government. The Centre had imposed President's Rule in Manipur in February, four days after N. Biren Singh resigned as chief minister. But the assembly, where the BJP continues to be in majority, was kept in suspended animation. There have been vociferous demands from the BJP MLAs for installation of a government for a while now but with the party a divided house, the Centre is not too confident if it's the right time to stake claim. Though no large-scale violence has been reported in the state since the imposition of President's Rule, the situation continues to be fragile. The ethnic conflict has led to a complete segregation of the two ethnic communities in the state. The non-tribal Meiteis fled from the hills and returned to the Valley while the tribal Kukis moved to the hill districts. Even the two national highways—NH 2 and NH 37—that were closed since the ethnic violence erupted in May 2023 continue to remain out of bounds. Prior to Prashant Kumar, another Manipur cadre IAS Vineet Joshi was the chief secretary. Joshi was called back after a year-and-a-half as chief secretary and appointed higher education secretary. Joshi was sent to the state just days after violent clashes began in May 2023. He had replaced the then chief secretary, Rajesh Kumar. (Edited by Viny Mishra) Also read: Manipur: 10 suspected Kuki militants killed, 'war-like' ammo stockpile seized in Assam Rifles op
